For decades after the fall of the Hays code, sex was one of the major marketing points for Hollywood movies. There were erotic thrillers like “Body Heat,” “Basic Instinct,” and “Wild Things”; teen sex comedies like “Porky’s,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” and “American Pie”; and smoldering dramas like “9½ Weeks,” “Indecent Proposal,” and “Unfaithful” (all three directed by the king of erotic movies, Adrian Lyne).
There was a daringness to these movies—and for the audiences that went out to see them. They were naughty, and paying money to see them could also be considered scandalous (in a small town, at least). There was an actual thrill to going to see an erotic thriller.
That thrill was killed by an internet that not only allows you to stream movies at home but also gives you access to quite literally any sexual content you could ever imagine. As audiences became less dependent on the thrill of sexy movies (and studios began catering to more conservative foreign markets), sex in Hollywood more or less disappeared.
And while this creates an odd, neutered dullness in some blockbusters (how often do you see The Rock kiss?), we shouldn’t mourn the kind of sexuality these films promote. Almost always shot with a male gaze, a lot of these movies tipped into misogyny by reducing the complexity of human sexuality into caricature for the sake of titillation.
When there is sex on screen these days, it usually comes from an independent filmmaker who is looking to say something new. Two films playing at The Triplex this week do just that: “The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed,” director Joanna Arnow’s debut hit indie comedy, shows how a BDSM relationship, often exoticized in movies like “Fifty Shades of Grey,” can become part of a monotonous rut. Bottoms, which plays Saturday night as part of our Late Night Pride program, recontextualizes the dumb, male horniness of teen sex comedies through a queer, female lens.
These movies and the conversations they invoke are peculiar byproducts of our shifting relationship with movie-going; instead of being used as a marketing tool, sex is depicted on screen the way it can be in real life: fun, messy, and complicated.
Scott Cohen joins us for a talkback following the 7:15 p.m. screening of “The Feeling That …” on Friday, June 14.
Now Playing
“Inside Out 2”
The long-awaited sequel to Pixar’s emotional smash-hit.
Things are getting a little crowded inside Riley’s head. The long-awaited follow-up to Pixar’s 2015 animated smash-hit, “Inside Out 2” follows Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust as they deal with a new class of emotions brought on by Riley’s preteen years including Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui.
“Bottoms”
A raunchy queer sex comedy from the creators of “Shiva Baby.”
Celebrate Pride with a raunchy comedy told through a queer lens. “Bottoms” follows PJ (Rachel Sennott, “Shiva Baby”) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”) as they hatch a plan to start a female fight club in order to lose their virginities—and scramble to contain the fallout when it works.
“Bottoms” plays late night on June 15. All tickets $8!
“We’re All Plastic People Now”
It is in the air. In the water. Plastic is everywhere—even in our own bodies. Come to The Triplex on June 18 for a free screening of “We’re All Plastic People Now,” a documentary that explores the impact of plastic on our daily lives (and well being). After the screening, we will be joined by Jenny Gitlitz, director of “Solution to Plastic Pollution at Beyond Plastics,” for a conversation about how we can reduce the impact of plastic on our health.
This free screening is thanks to a generous donation from the Dr. Robert C. & Tina Sohn Foundation.
“Paris Is Burning”
The landmark documentary plays as part of The Triplex’s Pride Docs series.
Come to The Triplex for a screening of “Paris Is Burning,” the landmark documentary that chronicles New York City drag queens and the “house” culture they pioneered in the 1980s, on June 20. After the movie, The Triplex will host a panel discussion moderated by Ananda Timpane of Railroad Street Youth Project with local trans leaders to discuss the legacy of the film and the future of transgender rights in the Berkshires.
“Evil Does Not Exist”
An eerie meditation on the power of nature from the director of “Drive My Car.”
Held over for one more week!
From Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, the Oscar-winning director of “Drive My Car,” comes “Evil Does Not Exist,” a meditation on the balance between the natural and modern world. As a company announces plans to build a glamping site in a remote, rural village, the mysterious power of nature begins to manifest itself in startling ways.
“Evil Does Not Exist” plays as part of The Triplex’s Limited Engagement Series from June 7 through 13.
“Furiosa”
See how Furiosa came to the Fury Road in an action-packed spectacle.
The action-packed prequel to George Miller’s 2015 masterpiece “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Furiosa” tells the story of Furiosa (Ana Taylor Joy) as she is kidnapped by the warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) and works her way up in the ranks of Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) and the Citadel to become the hard-driving hero the world needs.
Coming Soon
“The Bikeriders”
Freedom is for the fearless. Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy star in writer/director Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders,” a captivating drama that explores the mid-1960s counterculture through a midwestern motorcycle club as it transforms from a gathering place for rebellious outsiders into a criminal organization that threatens to upend its member’s lives.
“Thelma”
The Sundance smash hit comes to The Triplex for one week only! Featuring legendary character actor June Squibb in her first leading role, “Thelma” is the story of a 90-year-old grandmother who sets out on a hilarious quest for revenge after falling victim to a phone scam. Featuring Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and the late Richard Roundtree in one of his final roles, “Thelma” is set to be the indie comedy hit of the summer!
“Thelma” plays from June 21 through 27 as part of The Triplex’s Limited Engagement series.
